Queen's University Belfast Boat Club

Queen's University Belfast Boat Club (QUBBC) is the Boat Club of Queen's University Belfast which is in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is based on the River Lagan in the Stranmillis area of the city, about 10 mins walk from the university.

History

1931-1951

The Queen's University of Belfast Boat Club was founded in 1931, due to the work of four founding members:- J.W. Rigby, D.B. McNeill, F. Maunsell and J.F. Doggart. Towards the end of January 1932 the newly-formed Club signed an agreement with Belfast Commercial Boat Club (BCBC) for accommodation that was its home until 1951. Membership rose from a dozen or so in 1932 to a maximum of 65 by 1937. The Club competed regularly in regattas in Ireland and Scotland. Rowing was maintained at a low level throughout the war years; however, after the war the club really started making an impact, and under the vigorous Captaincy of F.J. Boyle (1944/45) it won the Wylie Cup (Irish University Championships) for the first time. Success continued under H.F. Jackson in 1945/46 when the club retained the Wylie Cup, and next year went to Henley Royal Reggatta for the first time. In 1947 a Queen's four won the Metropolitan Challenge Cup (the 'Blue Riband' of Irish Four rowing) and many other trophies. In 1951 the university provided a "temporary wooden structure" on the site of the present Club House, which was officially opened during the Captaincy of John Gorman, when the club went to the Putney Head of the River and came 13th.Alf McCreary & Brian Walker. (1994) "Degrees of Excellence, The story of Queen's, Belfast 1845-1995". Belfast:Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University Belfast. (March 1 1994) ISBN-10: 0853895929 ]

1952-1967

From their newly established Club House, Queen's came to be a dominant force in Irish Rowing and a major Club in the University. Under John Alexander's captaincy Queen's won the Wylie Cup and the Irish Senior Championship (the 'Big Pot') in 1952. The Club won the 'Big Pot' five more times - 1953, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1962. The victory in 1957 was remarkable because it was won by a 'second' Queen's crew, as the Championships were held during Henley Royal Regatta. In 1958 the Queen's Senior Crew represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games Regatta instead of attending the National Championships. That crew reached the third round of the Thames Cup at Henley, as did the crew in 1959. Other divisions of the club did well, as the splendid record of the Wylie Cup shows: the only years Queen's failed to win the cup were 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1966. Queen's Junior (now Intermediate) crews won the National Championships in 1958, 1960, and 1962 and the Maiden (Novice) crews in 1953, 1955, 1961, 1963, 1967 and 1969. Membership of the Club was usually about 100 at the beginning of each year, and frequently 4 or 5 'eights' rowed right through the season form October to July. The social side of life was not neglected, and the Boat Club Dinner and Formal Dance were among the highlights of the Queen's year. In 1967 Queen's held a regatta on the Lagan; this became an annual event and eventually transferred to its present venue at Castlewellan Lake.

1968-1983

Despite the success which Queen's had enjoyed for the previous fifteen years, there were developments in Irish Rowing which left these years rather bereft of trophies for the Club. And yet there were still great efforts made at Queen's, such as in 1976 when the Senior crew reached the final of the Ladies' Challenge Plate at Henley. In 1976 also, the "temporary wooden structure" was at last replaced with a proper Club House. J.W.F. Boyd was captain when the Club's new home was opened and three 'eights' made up of past Captains and members rowed a short race to celebrate the occasion. After graduating many members rowed for Lady Victoria Boat Club or the newly founded Belfast Rowing Club (BRC). John Armstrong, Captain 1982-83, won both the Open and Lightweight Championships in 1983.

Recent Years

Queens have achieved much success in recent years. In 1996 they won both the Wylie Cup and the Intermidiate 8 Championship. In 2001 a Queens Coxless Pair of James Clellend and Jonny Hill won the Irish championships and followed it up the next season by representing Ireland in the Home internationals and Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships. In 2003 Queen's raced in the Head of the Charles in Boston for the first time, entering the championship and college 8's races. In 2005 Queens, under the captaincy of Chris Wylie, won the Intermidiate 8's championship of Ireland ahead of Neptune R.C, and also won the University 8's event at Amsterdam International Regatta beating Orca R.C into second place.

Boat Race

2004 saw the first running of the Irish Universities Boat Race [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3797669.stm BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Queen's students in first NI boat race ] ] . The Race is held on the Lagan between Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. The race is made to mirror the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race which is held annually on the River Thames [ [http://www.qub.ac.uk/sport/Aboutus/NewsandEvents/Archive2004/LomacTilesUniversityBoatRace/ Queen's Sport | Lomac Tiles University Boat Race ] ] [ [http://www.qub.ac.uk/sport/Aboutus/NewsandEvents/09-06-2007UniversityBoatRace/ Queen's Sport | 09-06-2007 University Boat Race ] ] . In 2004 the race was held over 3800 m, in 2005 it was shortened to 2700 m and in 2006 it was shortened again to 2000 m. Dr Robert Gamble of Queen's University Belfast in 2006 remarked, 'this year’s race will be over the shorter distance of 1 mile and 550 yards, which mimics the original Oxford Cambridge course distance and is the same distance as the most prestigious rowing event in the calendar, Henley Royal Regatta.'. [http://www.qub.ac.uk/pec/Aboutus/NewsandEvents/Queens-Vs-TrinityHeadtoHead/] The inaugural race was won by Trinity, beating Queens by 4 lengths. The 2005 race was a thrilling contest with the Queens crew holding of Trinity in the final stages to win by a length. [http://www.qub.ac.uk/pec/Aboutus/NewsEvents/QueensVsTrinityHeadtoHeadontheLagan/] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/solpda/ukfs_sport/hi/newsid_4084000/4084084.stm BBC Sport | Sport Homepage | Other Sport... | Queen's gain revenge in Boat Race ] ] Trinity took the 2006, 2007 and 2008 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/rowing/7441977.stm BBC SPORT | Olympics | Rowing | Trinity beat Queen's in boat race ] ] races to give them a 4-1 lead overall.

Notable Members

Ian Kennedy - Olympic games 1976
John Armstrong - 1997 World Rowing Championships, Bronze medal lightweight quad
Richard Archibald - Member of the Irish Lighweight Coxless 4 in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games

ee also

*University rowing (UK)

External links

* [http://quis.qub.ac.uk/boat/ Queens University Boat Club]

References